Harry was scheduled to go into the hospital on Friday for three to five days. But on Wednesday, I received a call that the hospital was at max capacity (always good to know that there are maximum germs out there waiting.). Due to hospital policy, only four patients can be admitted daily. Someone who had been scheduled for admittance last week did not make counts and had to come this week instead. So Harry made 5 -- and we needed to come a day early to get around the four patient admittance limitation.
So here we are on Thursday back in room 423, where Harry spent three weeks in June. We left the bike and a lot else at home this time. (Special thanks to Eileen Walters, our nurse navigator, and Sarah Koch of Children;'s National, who arranged for Harry to 'keep' his room.)
We are now starting, Round Three: Interim Maintenance. This round will last for two months. It consists of five days in the hospital, and nine days out. Then back in. This 2 week cycle runs the 2 months amounting to 4 hospital stays. We may need a bit of help this round. Especially with driving the girls.
Harry will receive high doses of methotrexate, a drug he has taken previously. But the dosage level for this round is so high that it is toxic. Or can be.
To avoid liver damage, mouth sores and other fun side effects beyond killing cancer cells, he needs to be monitored and constantly hydrated. And he can leave once enough of the methotrexate clears his system.
Normal Harry 6/18 6/24. 7/21. 7/23 8/1 8/11 8/18 8/29 9/11
Hemoglobin 12-16 14.1 13.3. 8.7 7.4 7.3 10.6 8.9 6.9. 9.8
Platelets 150-350 235 174. 89 65 370 309 169 40. 362
WBC 5000-10000 8750 6300. 2006 100 640 3390 1930 1850. 2580
ANC. Above 1500. 4700. 1150 270 50 1620 880 1210. 1148
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| Methotrexate: It even looks scary! |
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| Harry and Dr. Jacobs prep for Round Three |
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